Florida has some of the highest food prices in the country.
As grocery prices keep climbing, a new national report says Florida has some of the highest food prices in the nation. The ranking by WorldPopulationReview.com reports Florida is tied with two others states for the country's sixth-highest average weekly grocery costs. Florida was even with Maryland and Oregon with an annual grocery cost of over $6,300, or $122 a week. The most expensive states for food were Hawaii, California, Washington, and Vermont.
In related news, the US Department of Labor has released the latest Consumer Price Index. Grocery items that saw the biggest increases in price in July, compared with a year ago, include instant coffee (up over 15%), beef roasts (up 13%), fresh tomatoes (up nearly 13%), and fresh apples (up 11%). Eggs remain the biggest year-over-year decliner in overall price, down over 25% in July.
Was Amendment 3 rushed through the Florida legislature?
Florida Tax Watch says the Legislature rushed Amendment 3, the property tax reform initiative. WFIT’s Terri Wright has more.
Florida TaxWatch, a nonpartisan government watchdog, says voters should reject Amendment 3, arguing the proposed property tax cuts could hurt vulnerable Floridians.
Attorney General James Uthmeier is among the latest Republicans to criticize the measure. The Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Fraternal Order of Police and Florida Professional Firefighters also oppose it, warning that reduced local revenues could lead to cuts in public services.
Critics also say local governments could make up lost property tax revenue by increasing fees or turning to other revenue sources, potentially leaving taxpayers no better off.
Optional Outro: The Legislature will have another opportunity to address property taxes next year, when the 25-member Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission convenes to review the state’s overall tax structure.
Rocket launch early tomorrow.
The next rocket launch from the Cape is set for early tomorrow. It’s another SpaceX Starlink mission. The launch window extends from 1:49AM until 5:49AM, but check back tonight before setting your alarm clock - SpaceX will likely set a more precise liftoff target.
Brevard bail bondsman faces new charges.
A former Brevard bail bondsman is facing new charges. Russell Moncrief was already facing years in prison for coercing jailed women to have sex with him. Now, he’s in trouble for using heavy machinery to widen the Little Wekiva River in front of his home. A special magistrate in Seminole County told Moncrief the damage may take the county years to restore. At the hearing, a tearful Moncrief said he wanted to settle the environmental issue before January - that’s when he’s due to be sentenced on the charges of coercing sex from prisoners.
More ships. More passengers. More money.
The Canaveral Port Authority has predicted the world’s busiest cruise port will continue growing in the fiscal year that begins Oct 1. More ships. More passengers. More money for the port. At its August board meeting, the Port said it expects nearly 11 million passenger movements and 23 home-ported ships in the 2027 fiscal year. Next year, Carnival will bring it’s largest ship to Port Canaveral, The Festivale, with a capacity of 6,600 passengers. And the MSC World Atlantic will be home-ported here, with a capacity of 6,800 passengers.
It’s all Relative.
Relativity Space — a relatively new player on Florida's Space Coast — has announced ambitious plans to construct a manufacturing plant for its large Terran R rocket. The company said it will hire thousands of workers - but don’t quit your existing job quite yet - Relativity Space won’t be expanding until 2034. So far, Relativity has done one rocket launch from the Space Coast, and that was years ago.
